My eyes met Josephine’s. ‘You have been running things from the sideline for too long,’ I said.
She remained silent, like a prisoner waiting to hear her sentence.
‘You wanted me here. You brought me back to Lincoln. Why?’ The question had been bugging me since she arrived in New Orleans.
‘I hoped that you really were what my instinct whispered.’ And in our world of interfering angels manipulating and creating choices of both light and dark, only to then dangle free will over us all, I understood what she was saying.
‘Do you regret your choices, knowing that I now hold this power over your future?’
Josephine took a deep breath and let it out. ‘All I care about is the cause. So, while there are many things in my life that I regret, this is not, nor will it ever be, one of them.’
I watched her closely, but I also turned to Griffin for confirmation that she was giving nothing but truth. On his small nod, I turned back to her. ‘You are a good Vice, Josephine. But you will have to accept your place if you are to maintain your seat. The days of your rule are over.’
‘You would still allow me to hold my seat?’ she asked tentatively.
‘If you can mind your place, then yes. You are a warrior who believes in Grigori more than any other person I know.’
‘Then I would humbly maintain my position,’ she responded, sitting down, and I noticed Carter roll his eyes as she did. They would make an interesting team.
I turned to Lincoln and pulled him close so I could speak quietly into his ear. He listened, absorbing my words. And when I pulled back he was smiling with pride and a tinge of excitement that solidified my decision. I smiled back and turned to the hall.
‘You deserve a great leader. And I believe that, with Lincoln beside me, I can be that leader for you.’ I walked over to where Griffin and Nyla stood. ‘Some day,’ I added. ‘But you need strength today, and someone who will lead with not only courage but also experience and integrity. And I … I need some time to become the leader you all deserve. I promise you that I will return, but today I abdicate my chair and pass my seat of power to a person I would follow without a second thought: Griffin Moore.’
Griffin’s face filled with restrained emotion as Nyla discreetly took his hand, giving him her support.
I approached Griffin and grabbed his hands in mine. ‘I thought we might do a trade,’ I explained. ‘You can have my job until I’m ready, and in return, if you would trust us, Lincoln and I would very much like to go home.’
Griffin pulled me into a tight embrace. ‘I’d be honoured. And I look forward to the day that I will stand aside so you can take your rightful place.’
‘I know that,’ I assured him.
Griffin, still holding Nyla’s hand, walked up to the middle two chairs and turned to face the hall. As they took their seats, the entire hall behind me erupted into applause and cheers.
CHaPteR tHIRty-NINe
‘To see a world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour.’
William Blake
I’d been waiting for him.
It had been a few days since Griffin became the head of the Assembly, and things were gradually settling down. Steph’s wedding plans were going full-steam ahead. The term ‘duck and cover’ was being used with particular regularity within Academy walls and, well, let’s just say no one was warrior enough to escape the wrath of bridal-Steph.
Tonight, everyone was at Ascension enjoying a night off and a joint bucks-and-hens night for Steph and Salvatore, who had decided that after recent events it would be more fun to be all together. They had been right.
After watching Dapper and Onyx bring out a huge pre-wedding cake, I had taken the opportunity to slip away for some fresh air. Watching all of my friends smiling and dancing helped put things in perspective. And perspective, I have discovered, proves this: life goes on.
But it is a different life now.
As I sat on the Brooklyn Bridge, Phoenix finally showed up.
He sat beside me, his legs dangling over the edge like mine.
‘It’s strange not sensing you,’ I said. My powers had been returning gradually, gaining in strength and accuracy every day. It wouldn’t be long before I was ‘all systems, go!’. But even then … my days of sensing Phoenix were over.
He half laughed. ‘Everything is strange.’ A gust of wind blew my hair back. ‘Especially that,’ he said, marvelling.
‘Wind?’
‘Wind,’ he confirmed.
I nodded. I could imagine that feeling the wind without being able to mingle with it would take some getting used to.
He hesitated for a moment before giving me a familiar smirk. ‘It suits you.’ When I looked at him blankly, he added, ‘Your hair. It’s bad-ass and beautiful at the same time.’
I blushed and looked down.
He laughed, fully this time. ‘And that’s weird too. Not feeling your emotions even though I can see them.’
‘Do you miss it?’
He shrugged. ‘Are you well?’ he asked instead.
‘Getting there,’ I responded, accepting the subject change.
We were silent for a time, watching the cars stream by below, their brake lights leaving trails of red in their wake. Yes, life goes on.
‘I could try to do something,’ I blurted out suddenly. ‘Speak with the angels.’ I hadn’t seen them since I’d woken up the second time and I wasn’t sure if I would ever see Michael again, but surely someone would answer me if I called to them.
‘Thank you, but I don’t want you to do that.’
I looked at him for the first time. His dark eyes sparkled, and his hair, still stunning with shades of black and purple, seemed … quietened. It struck me that he was different in more ways than one. He was human, yes. But he was …
‘You look young,’ I said, smiling.
He laughed darkly. ‘Not for long.’
I sobered. He was right. Phoenix would live a normal human life now, he would grow old and die. Because of me.
‘I’m so sorry,’ I whispered.
His hand went to my face, his touch filled with unsaid words, and he gently tilted my chin until our eyes met. ‘I’m not.’
I saw the truth in his eyes. Felt it. ‘But you’ll die.’
‘One day, yes. But I think this might well be the first time I have looked forward to living. I’ve always been different. Not quite angel enough, not quite human enough. I’ve been searching for my place, and now I’ve found it.’
‘You want this?’
He smiled. ‘Didn’t you? I get it now. It’s different from just being half here as an exile. And best of all, without my powers, I don’t leak emotion all over the place. A girl hasn’t thrown herself at me once since I changed.’
I looked him up and down, and I couldn’t stop my smile. Phoenix was a gorgeous example of a man. ‘I wouldn’t count on that becoming the rule,’ I said wryly.
He shrugged, but his eyes stayed glued to mine, searching for the memory of past times, when we had been more to each other. And of course it was there. The memory was bittersweet and I would carry it with me forever. I could tell the moment Phoenix found it too, from the ripple of pain that showed in his expression. He looked away.
‘Maybe. But maybe there’s a chance one of them might actually want me for … me.’
I swallowed. ‘I’m sorry, Phoenix.’ And this time I was apologising for something more personal. And he knew it.
‘Me too.’
I blew out a breath. ‘What now?’
Phoenix swung his legs in time with mine. ‘We both know the answer to that.’
My chest suddenly tightened and tears slipped from my eyes. Because he was right.
I bit down hard on my lip. ‘You’ll always know where I am. If you ever …’
He nodded. ‘I’ll know. But you need to get on with your life.’ He gestured to my wedding finger. ‘And I need to find
a life that won’t hurt the people I care the most about.’ He looked back into my eyes and then away, running his hand through his hair and rubbing the back of his neck. ‘Don’t look like that, Violet. Please. Seeing you sad … I had to watch you these past two years and it ripped me apart.’
‘I wish things had been different.’
‘No, you don’t. Not really. You and I were destined to come together. I was destined to share my essence with you, and I think you were destined to change me so completely that when it came to making my ultimate decision, I was ready. I thought that with you I would belong and that I would find my place in this world. But it wasn’t with you so much as through you. I understand that now.’ He half laughed again. ‘Turns out you weren’t the only one with a Gordian Knot to slice through.’
I nodded quickly, trying to hold back more tears.
He cleared his throat. ‘That doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt like hell to see that marking on your finger, but it means I can accept it.’
I took in a shuddering breath, absorbing Phoenix’s words – both his understanding and his forgiveness.
After a few minutes of silence Phoenix stood and pulled me up and into his arms. I gripped him tightly, knowing that this would be the last time.
‘I hope you have the most amazing life. You deserve it,’ I said. ‘And I hope that when she finds you, you will finally see the truth you have always denied.’
‘You sound like them, speaking in riddles,’ he admonished. ‘Who? And what?’ he said with a smile.
‘The one. And, how incredible and deserving of true happiness you really are.’
His arms tightened around me and then his mouth moved close to my ear. ‘That certainly is something to look forward to.’ He lingered, breathing in and out slowly, before whispering, ‘I’ll always be with you. Even though we’ll be forever apart.’
Phoenix was right. I carried the essence of his angelic being.
He will always be with me.
I held onto him for what felt like seconds but was probably much longer. Our lives had collided with an almost obliterating force, but we had taught each other to survive, to fight, to be strong and inevitably to act with our hearts and consciences. Our future was not together, but our history would be forever entwined.
Eventually, he brushed the hair back from my face and looked at me for what I knew was the last time. ‘Say the words I came to hear,’ he said softly.
I almost whimpered, but he deserved them. So did I.
And so did Lincoln.
I took a deep breath and cupped his cheek in my hand. ‘Goodbye, Phoenix.’
His smile was painted with both pain and relief as tears slipped down his face to mirror my own. ‘Goodbye, lover.’
The wedding was perfect.
Grigori glamour users put a dome of cover over Central Park and the nature users went crazy. Steph, on Dapper’s arm, walked down an aisle rimmed by white daisies; the same white daisies that went as far as the eye could see – Zoe’s gift to the happy couple.
Steph was breathtaking in a vintage Chanel dress that showcased her slim figure in the most delicate Chantilly lace and intricate beading, while her veil remained short and understated. Her parents, too wrapped up in their own lives, had not made the trip to celebrate her day but had insisted on paying for it. Much to Onyx’s horror, Steph had returned most of the money to them. Minus the cost of the dress.
Zoe and I played our roles as bridesmaids, each wearing a dusty-blue silk dress that flowed to the ground, cutting a slim elegant line with a low and open back. Zoe tipped her hair with gold and with her smoky eye make-up looked divine. I had let Steph style my hair, as she had always been the expert on shorter styles, and the end result had a 1920s glam feel about it. I loved it.
Lincoln and Spence got off considerably easier in the duties department as groomsmen. Salvatore, no surprise, was the most relaxed groom imaginable.
They spoke their vows in both English and Italian. And when Father Peters proclaimed them husband and wife, the applause was thunderous as their love was felt by all of the two hundred guests.
As the day moved into night the glamour users continued to keep the full sit-down meal, band and dance floor hidden from human eyes.
Just before the reception began, I slipped away for a few minutes to collect my wedding gift for Steph. It wasn’t perfect, considering I had wanted to have it ready before the ceremony started, but still …
‘Are you ready for this?’ I asked sternly. ‘You need to know what you are walking into, and if you can’t handle it, don’t come.’
He looked at his feet and nodded. ‘I’ve messed up, Violet. I know it. But I want to fix things. Starting right now.’
I smiled and pulled him in for a hug. ‘Right, we better get you and your perfectly tailored tuxedo in there, then.’
He followed me through the invisible wall of glamour, and once I told him what to look for, his human eyes gradually adapted.
‘Don’t pass out,’ I cautioned. ‘Breathe.’
He nodded quickly, and slowly the colour returned to his face. We stood on the side of the dance floor and I gestured to the middle, where Steph was dancing with Lincoln. They were speaking close to one another, smiling and laughing.
I walked into the centre of the floor and tapped Steph’s shoulder.
‘I think I’ll cut in now,’ I said.
Steph pouted. ‘But I want to keep dancing.’
Failing at holding back my smile any longer, I stepped aside. ‘And I have the perfect partner for you.’
Steph’s line of sight cleared and she gasped the moment she saw her brother, standing there with a proud smile on his face.
‘Sorry I’m late, sis,’ he said.
Steph … well, Steph is one of the good ones. She doesn’t hold a grudge. She isn’t cold. No. She simply burst into tears and flung herself into her brother’s arms.
‘Whoa!’ Jase laughed, stumbling back. He would have gone down too, if Salvatore’s hand hadn’t steadied them.
Jase stepped back and quickly put his hand out to Salvatore. ‘Welcome to the family, man. You got the best of us.’
Salvatore shook his hand, smiling as he gestured to the wedding party. ‘And welcome to ours.’
Steph looked over to me, delight shining in her eyes as she mouthed, ‘Thank you.’
I smiled as I mouthed back, ‘You’re welcome.’
Lincoln slid his arms around me from behind. ‘So, that was your top-secret mission?’
I admit I was feeling pretty damn smug. We’d waged a silent war over the past week over who could come up with the best wedding gift.
What? I never said maturity had to dominate in all areas of my life!
‘Yep,’ I said, pulling his arms tighter as we watched Steph and Jase dance, both of them laughing as they goofed around. ‘How did yours end up?’ I asked.
Me? Gloating? Never.
Lincoln looked at his watch and then whispered in my ear. ‘Look up.’
Just as I did, silver and gold fireworks erupted from all over the place, flying right up to the edge of the glamour dome before exploding within until the entire dome was illuminated in a completely unearthly and beautiful way.
‘How?’ I asked.
Lincoln shrugged behind me, his fingers gliding up and down my bare back, making me shiver. ‘A little help from telekinesis and the conductors. How did I do?’ he whispered into my ear as I watched on in awe.
I feigned nonchalance, at both his words and his still-wandering hands. ‘It’s okay, I guess. But family trumps everything,’ I said.
Sliding his hands around my waist, he turned us both slowly on the spot, and pointed to the bar.
‘Yes, baby. Family trumps it all.’
Mum and Dad raised their glasses of champagne towards me – and just like Steph, I burst into tears. I hadn’t seen them for more than a year.
As they walked towards us, I turned to Lincoln. Before I could speak, he kissed me, then sa
id, ‘We might have been married by angels, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on a few wedding gifts yourself.’
‘I love you,’ I said, just before my father whisked me up into a bear hug.
‘There’s my girl,’ Dad said, almost squeezing the life out of me.
He put me down and Mum pulled me tight. ‘You’re everything and more than I could ever have dreamed.’ She then held me back at arm’s length and looked me over. ‘Even without my Grigori gifts I can see what they all see.’
‘Who?’ I asked, smiling with confusion.
She looked around. ‘Everyone, sweetheart. Everyone.’ She cupped my face with both of her hands. ‘You’re empowered. And that makes you luminous,’ she said, using the same word Lincoln had used, not so long ago.
Dad looked down at Lincoln’s hand, which was joined with mine, and gestured to the markings on our wedding fingers.
He raised his eyebrows at Lincoln. ‘Missed a call, did I?’
Lincoln swallowed beside me and, in a rare display of nerves, suddenly seemed to be struggling for words.
Dad maintained his stern face and spoke levelly, which only made it worse. ‘What? You don’t believe in tradition?’
Lincoln cleared his throat.
I elbowed Dad in his side and he finally gave way to a smile. ‘So, I’m guessing they don’t have phones in the angelic realm?’
Mum and Dad started to laugh as they took in Lincoln’s freaked-out expression. I couldn’t help it; I busted up, too. It turns out we all have the same twisted sense of humour.
Lincoln forgave us. Eventually.
Three hours, a few too many glasses of champagne and way too many dances later, Lincoln and I slid into the car we had waiting. Steph and Salvatore had already left, headed on their honeymoon to the Amalfi Coast in Italy.
‘Ready?’ Lincoln asked as we settled into our seats, bound for the airport.
I nodded. ‘It’ll be strange going back and Griff not being there.’
Lincoln pulled me into the crook of his arm. ‘True, but Spence and Chloe will only be a couple of days behind us, and Steph, Sal and Zoe won’t be far behind.’
Empower: Violet Eden Chapters: Book Five Page 35
